Seahawks' 2018 preview: Will the Legion of Whom surprise us all?

September 8, 2018 4:13 PM

With Thomas’ absence, the starters were Tedric Thompson and Bradley McDougald at free and strong safety, respectively; Now its Thomas at free paired while McDougald roams the box.

With so many new faces across the board in Seattle’s defense, Thomas’ return helps to sure up (some) uncertainty in coverage -- and provides an intimidation factor that once defined the former Legion of Boom. He’s simply a difference maker that, paired with McDougald, gives the Seahawks an experienced safety tandem.

The long-term future of Thomas -- a three-time All-Pro selection and six-time Pro Bowler -- in Seattle is still cloudy. But his presence, for now, avoids a production drop off at this position.

“He makes plays that no one else can make,” Norton said of Thomas. “He has a great instinct about him. His motor is really solid. He tackles people all over the place and he raises the standard of everyone around him. He’s very focused. In order to be on his team, you have to be pretty focused to play at his level so he raises the level of expectations of this group.”

Thompson, who impressed everyone during training camp and preseason, becomes one of the best backup free safeties in the NFL.

“He showed playmaking ability really early on,” Carroll said of Thompson. “You can see the natural feel and the willingness to go after a ball and make a break on something. Trusting himself, which the really good free safeties do, so that showed up. We just had to get him adapted and fit him in. He was always in a backup role throughout that and really never could elevate out of that. As soon as we gave him a chance to be...

Bobby Wagner is arguably the best middle linebacker in football. K.J. Wright is a Pro-Bowl caliber player. But the story here is rookie Shaquem Griffin.

Griffin, a fifth-round selection out of Central Florida, has been one of the biggest stories in the NFL; the league’s first one-handed player is on verge of a significant role with the Seahawks. He’s the expected starter at weakside linebacker as long as Wright is out. And he earned it -- not because of his story.

Griffin recorded 24 tackles in the preseason.

“I’m playing for a lot of people. I take that with me every single game,” Griffin said Friday. “Me being able to do that and me being able to keep that on my shoulders allowed me to push harder even when I feel like I’m tired, or I can’t feel (my) legs. It’s so many things that goes into it, but knowing that I have so many supporting me, it just gives me that extra push to go harder.”

With Griffin, and other new faces like backup MLB Austin Calitro and starting OLB Barkevious Mingo, the biggest concern is developing strong communication -- really throughout the defense -- as Wagner eluded to.

“You play with Kam (Chancellor) for so long, you play with Earl Thomas for so long, Sherm (Richard Sherman), K.J., Mike (Bennett),” Wagner said. “All those guys you play with them for so long, you establish this non-verbal communication, where I can look at Mike's body language and tell what he’s about to do. And K.J knows what I’m thinking.

“You get used to that and so when you have new players you have to kind of over-communicate because somebody like Shaquem...

LINEBACKERS
Bobby Wagner is arguably the best middle...photo-16095021.184966 - |ucfirst

CORNERBACKS

The biggest concern has been what the Seahawks can get from the right cornerback spot.

Shaquill Griffin has had the left side, Sherman’s former spot, locked up since Day 1 of training camp. He’s demonstrated the confidence and swagger you’d like to see in a star in the making, suggesting he’ll have a breakout second NFL season. Justin Coleman may be one of best slot corners in the league.

The right side, however, is up in the air.

Expected starter Dontae Johnson, formerly of the San Francisco 49ers, isn’t game eligible to play until Week 9 after being placed on Injured Reserve on Saturday. Byron Maxwell, who played a critical role on the Seahawks’ championship team in the 2013 season, was released on injury settlement. And veteran backup Neiko Thorpe has missed significant time already, ahead of Week 1, with a wrist issue.

That means rookie Tre Flowers has to grow up quickly.

A safety in his time at Oklahoma State, Flowers has had to make the transition to cornerback and adopt the Seahawks’ signature “kick-step” technique. All comments from the coaches suggest they’ve been pleased with his progress and willingness to learn.

But opposing offenses are likely to target Flowers (or Thorpe) relentlessly to exploit the potential weakness. How will the team respond? It could be rough early.

“We’re trying to get (Flowers) to be a fourth- or fifth-year starter in the course of five or six months, and it’s a lot to ask and you can’t really get there until you can start battling on the field and getting into games and all these things have to take place,” Carroll...

CORNERBACKS
The biggest concern has been what the Seahawks...photo-14750730.184966 - |ucfirst

DEFENSIVE LINE

The defensive line has been one of the team’s biggest concerns heading into the season. Michael Bennett (traded), Cliff Avril (forced retirement), Sheldon Richardson (free agency) and Marcus Smith II (contract termination), among others, are no longer part of the team.

Frank Clark has to have a Pro-Bowl caliber season for Seattle's pass rush to stay legitimate. He led the team in sacks last season with nine, but was slowed at times in both training camp and the preseason with a wrist injury (the fact he’s in a contract year, if nothing else, may be big enough incentive for him to have a big year). But Jarran Reed and Nazair Jones have to step up, too. The acquisitions of former Minnesota Vikings Tom Johnson and Shamar Stephen bring a veteran presence to the Seahawks’ defensive line.

The starting d-line, from left to right: Quinton Jefferson, Reed, Johnson and Clark.

“Had his best camp ever,” Carroll said. “He’s really stepped up his intensity in terms of consistency. He’s always been a good, big athlete, but he’s really understands the scheme really well. Clint (Hurtt) really believes in him and trusts that he’s going to do the right thing and play well and play right. He’s not a young guy anymore, so he’s got some veteran in him now. He’s always been a good mover and a good tough guy and all that. Now, he’s the best he’s been.”

The Seahawks are also hoping for big contributions from defensive end Dion Jordan, who was activated from the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list to start the season, and rookie defensive...

With Thomas’ absence, the starters were Tedric Thompson and Bradley McDougald at free and strong safety, respectively; Now its Thomas at free paired while McDougald roams the box.

With so many new faces across the board in Seattle’s defense, Thomas’ return helps to sure up (some) uncertainty in coverage -- and provides an intimidation factor that once defined the former Legion of Boom. He’s simply a difference maker that, paired with McDougald, gives the Seahawks an experienced safety tandem.

The long-term future of Thomas -- a three-time All-Pro selection and six-time Pro Bowler -- in Seattle is still cloudy. But his presence, for now, avoids a production drop off at this position.

“He makes plays that no one else can make,” Norton said of Thomas. “He has a great instinct about him. His motor is really solid. He tackles people all over the place and he raises the standard of everyone around him. He’s very focused. In order to be on his team, you have to be pretty focused to play at his level so he raises the level of expectations of this group.”

Thompson, who impressed everyone during training camp and preseason, becomes one of the best backup free safeties in the NFL.

“He showed playmaking ability really early on,” Carroll said of Thompson. “You can see the natural feel and the willingness to go after a ball and make a break on something. Trusting himself, which the really good free safeties do, so that showed up. We just had to get him adapted and fit him in. He was always in a backup role throughout that and really never could elevate out of that. As soon as we gave him a chance to be...